17 March 2026: Henley Royal Regatta has announced that it will formally include the Scottish Rowing Championships as an event whose results will be used in assessing crews for pre-qualification for the 2026 Henley Royal Regatta.
The decision follows feedback gathered during Henley Royal Regatta’s club consultation initiative last year and aligns with the Regatta’s commitment to strengthening connections across the rowing community in line with one of its key strategic principles.
The Scottish Rowing Championships, which will take place at Strathclyde Park on 6th and 7th June 2026, will now provide crews from northern England and Scotland with a closer and more accessible opportunity to demonstrate their performance ahead of Entries closing for Henley Royal Regatta on June 15th 2026.
Officials from Henley Royal Regatta will attend the Scottish Rowing Championships this year to observe racing and engage with crews interested in competing at Henley Royal Regatta. The decision represents a multi-year commitment between Henley Royal Regatta and the Scottish Rowing Championships.
In response to this development, organisers of the Scottish Rowing Championships have amended the race schedule to support crews targeting Henley Royal Regatta events. Women’s Championship Eights and Open Championship Coxless Fours will now be raced on Saturday afternoon on the 6th of June 2026, while Open Championship Eights and Women’s Championship Quads will take place on Sunday morning and the early afternoon on Sunday the 7th of June 2026.
The revised schedule means that many competitors will be able to travel to the event on Saturday morning and return home by late-afternoon on Sunday.
Jen Thomson, Chair of the Scottish Rowing Championships, said: "This is great news for the Scottish Rowing Championships and we are delighted to work with Henley Royal Regatta to develop the events offered and optimise our racing schedule. We look forward to welcoming newcomers and regulars alike to Strathclyde Park in June.”
"This is a really positive development for rowing in Scotland."
Lee Boucher, Scottish Rowing Chief Executive, said: “This is a really positive development for rowing in Scotland. Crews from Scotland and the north of England have enjoyed a long and successful relationship with Henley Royal Regatta, but doing so has often required significant travel, expense, and sacrifice.
“Recognising the Scottish Rowing Championships as part of the pre-qualification process is an important step that gives crews in the north a closer opportunity to demonstrate their speed ahead of Henley. We’re delighted to be working with the Henley Royal Regatta team to make this happen.”
"I hope to see many Henley Royal Regatta aspirant crews there."
Richard Phelps, Chair of the Committee at Henley Royal Regatta, commented: "I was struck by the feedback last year which can be summarised as ‘why do our rowers need to travel hundreds of miles south in order to be seen by the Stewards of Henley Royal Regatta?’ So I'm delighted that we have taken that feedback on board, worked with the organisers of the Scottish Rowing Championships and created an alternative. What's more, I personally look forward to being in Strathclyde Park on the 6th and 7th of June and I hope to see many Henley Royal Regatta aspirant crews there."
Find out more about entering and qualifying for Henley Royal Regatta in the 2026 Entry Guide, available on the Compete page of the Henley Royal Regatta website.Henley Royal Regatta’s vision aims to broaden its appeal, establishing itself as the premier international regatta and an iconic British sporting event for both rowers and spectators alike. With a focus on gender parity, inclusivity and enhanced experiences, Henley Royal Regatta is poised to continue breaking barriers and redefining excellence both on and off the water.
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Notes to the editor
For any media enquiries, please contact Henley Royal Regatta’s press office, The PHA Group - press@hrr.co.uk
Background
Henley Royal Regatta, founded in 1839, is the best-known rowing regatta in the world, renowned for its match-racing. It is one of the highlights of the summer sporting and social calendar in the UK, as well as the rowing calendar internationally. Over 400 races are staged at the Regatta, featuring Olympians and emerging stars from around the world. www.hrr.co.uk You can stay up to date with Henley Royal Regatta including race results, schedules and event information on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X and Facebook.
